ENEMY FIGHTERS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 115, 10 February 1944, Page 5

ENEMY FIGHTERS

More Noticed At Rabaul (By Telegraph.—Prese Assn.—Copyright) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received February '9, 9,30 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 9.

Fighter reinforcements have apparently reached Rabaul to augment the hard-pressed Japanese air defences there. When 150 Allied aircraft from Solomons bases were over Rabaul on Sunday they were intercepted by 60 Zeros. On Saturday the Japanese had been able to get only about 30 fighters into the air to challenge our raiding force. Of Sunday’s 60 interceptors 13 were shot down and 10 others probably destroyed. We lost no planes, though some were damaged. Lakunai aerodrome, the main target for the attack, was hit with 124 tons of bombs. Mitchell and Liberator bombers, escorted by Warhawk, Corsair and Hellcat fighters, made the strike just about midday. Adverse weather has hindered air operations throughout most of the Southwest Pacific area. Today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters makes no mention of any la,nd fighting. However, it is reported that Australian patrols in the Ramu Valley in New Guinea in the past week have penetrated more than five miles both to north-east and north-west of Kankiryo without encountering any organized Japanese opposition. These advances brought the Australians to within 15 air miles of the enemy coastal base at Bogadjim.